Mayor Mamdani’s Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE) is proposing to accelerate New York City street safety redesigns and simplify outdoor dining permits by removing time-consuming public reviews. According to testimony from a Monday public hearing at Queens Borough Hall, the commission aims to undo regulations that advocates say delay critical safety upgrades and hinder restaurant revenue.
Cutting Red Tape for Street Safety Redesigns
The COGE panel found that current regulations allow non-experts to undermine Department of Transportation (DOT) planners and drain city resources through repetitive feedback sessions. In a paper released earlier this month, the commission stated these requirements lead to fewer redesigns, wasted staff time, and legal challenges.
Much of the delay stems from a 2009 Bloomberg-era law requiring the DOT to consult the Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Small Business Services, and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for any project exceeding 1,000 feet or three blocks. The City Council later added a requirement for written confirmation that officials sought feedback from any affected firehouse in the area.
Rex Tai, an internal medicine physician at the city’s public hospital system, testified that street safety projects should move with “all due haste” to prevent life-altering injuries. Meryl LaBorde, a north Brooklyn street safety advocate, noted that projects on Metropolitan Avenue, Grand Street, and Morgan Avenue—the city’s truck corridor with the highest rates of people killed or seriously injured—have been stuck in the pipeline for years.
Did You Know? A 2009 law requires the DOT to consult four different city agencies and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for any street redesign longer than three blocks or 1,000 feet.
Outdoor Dining Permit Reforms
The commission is also targeting the city’s outdoor dining program, which has shrunk from up to 8,000 restaurants during the pandemic-era program to 1,405 fully licensed establishments as of last month. This decline followed restrictive 2023 rules enacted by the Mayor Eric Adams administration and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, which included a winter ban on roadway cafés.
Kenny Minaya, the Department of Small Business Services commissioner, told COGE that applications can take upwards of six months. This delay often causes restaurants to miss peak warm months and lose revenue. The commission may eliminate some mandated public hearings and notices for licenses and reconsider the revocable consent structure that charges rent for sidewalk or roadway space.
Political Opposition and Potential Ballot Measures
While no residents at the three-hour meeting objected to the reforms, some local politicians expressed concern. Council Member Frank Morano (R-Staten Island) called the plans a “backdoor” for redesigns, arguing that reducing public review is “simply just less democracy.”
Council Member Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn Heights) urged the administration to work with the Council on legislation rather than bypassing it. Restler noted that the FDNY has refused to commit to a 30-day timeframe for feedback on bike lane proposals and mentioned that the Council is working on a bill to restore year-round open dining, which they hope to vote on in weeks.
To bypass these hurdles, the charter review commission revealed earlier this month that its leaders were looking into ballot proposals for the November election to undo city laws that hamper efforts to improve street safety.
Possible Next Steps
The city may see a push for November ballot proposals that could legally strip away the 2009 review requirements. Additionally, the Council may vote on new legislation to restore year-round outdoor dining, potentially preempting some of the COGE commission’s proposed regulatory changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “bikelash law”?
It is a 2009 law from the Bloomberg era that requires the DOT to consult multiple city agencies for any street redesign exceeding 1,000 feet or three blocks.
Why has the number of outdoor dining permits decreased?
According to the source, the number dropped from up to 8,000 to 1,405 licensed establishments due to restrictive 2023 rules, including a winter ban on roadway cafés and lengthy review periods.
What is the current state of street safety in NYC?
The COGE panel reported that roughly 50,000 people are injured in more than 80,000 reported crashes each year in the city.
Do you believe city efficiency should take priority over community board reviews for street safety?
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